Lamp socket



Aug. 23,1927. 1,640,189

D. E. HAMEL.

LAMP SOCKET Filed Feb. 20. 1925 B01712011 zmifl Patented ug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES y 1,640,189I PATENT OFFICE.

DOBMAN 11. HAMIEL, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

LAMP SOCKET.

' Application led February 20, 1925. Serial No. 10,702.

This invention relates to an improved socket adapted for the quick andconvenient attachment of separable current conveying members "and,specifically, the invent-ion provides a socket into which a separableplug or lamp base can be quickly and easily inserted and supportedtherein for the efiicient transmission of electric energy and with aneffective mechanical union between the separable parts.

It is anobject of the present invention to provide a lamp socket inwhich the threaded base of an ordinary incandescent lamp may be insertedand secured without involving the use of screw threads, as is nowcustomary. It is a tedious and time consuming' task to insert theordinary tlireadediform of incandescent lamps into the receiving socketsin which they are to be placed or mounted. In the rst place there mustbe proper registration between the lamp base and the receiving sockets,and then the lamp must necessarily be rotated to the end of the socketto effect the necessary electricalk contact between parts. It is anobject of the present invention to provide a socket in which the lampbase may be inserted by a sliding movement which can be quickly andeasily accomplished in but a fraction of the time required to thread thelamp in an ordinary socket,and to construct the socket so that the samewill securely support the lamp therein with the same security asprovided by the-threaded form of socket and with equivalent electricaletiicienc y With these and other objects in view, as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction, combinations of elements and arrangements of rartshereinafter to be fully described and) pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: "i,

Figure 1 is a verticall sectional View, partly in side elevation of alamp socket -constructed in accordance with the p-resent invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the spring tension ring.l

In the yaccompanying drawing the socket l comprising the presentinvention is shown as susimnded from current conducting wires p 2. Itwill be appreciated, however, that contact 4 and spaced or insulatedreturn con- T tacts 5, the contacts 4 and 5 being in communication andsecured to the wires 2 in any suitable manner.

Surrounding the body 3 is a metallic sleeve G in which is positioned atube 7 ofa an insulating material, and arranged to be carried by andconnected with the contacts 5 are separable threaded supporting wings 8,formed from meta-l so as to be in electrical communication with thecontacts 5.

Itis customary to provide a socket of this character with an internallythreaded metallic bushing or sleeve in which is threaded the base 9 ofan electric lamp 10 or other electrical apparatus. However, in thepresent invention such a threaded bushing is eliminated and in placethereof the resiliently separable wings'` 8 are provided. These wingsare permitted to flex about the plane defined by their points ofconnection with the contacts 5 and sufficient space is rovided betweensaid Wings and the tube gto permit of this function. By thisconstruction the lamp base 9 may be inserted directly into the socket bya straight, in-

wardly directed linear movement, the wings expanding or separating as athreaded portion of the base 9 engages with the corrugations or threadsofthe win s 8, so that when the central Contact 1l of te base 9 engageswith the Contact 4, the wings will exercise a frictional grip upon thebase 9 to support the latten-within the socket;

An important feature of the present invention resides in supplementingthe normal or inherent resiliency of the wings 8 with asurroundingspring ring orcollar l2. This ring or collar is ositionedwithin an annular recess 13 provided in the sleeve 6 and tube 7 near theo en lower end of the socket. The ring or colar comprises a band l catedin Figure 3, and the position of said ring is such that its normaltendency is to hold the Wings in their nearest positions of relativeapproach, so that the saine Will exercise a reinforced maximum securinggrip upon the base 9, preventing the latter from becoming accidentallydisengaged with the Wings 8 as will be apt to happen were not'tlie 'ringor collar 12 provided. It will be seen, however, that by reason of thecorrugations in said ring the said Wing sections 8 may separatesufficiently upon the removal' or insertion of the base or plug 9 topermit of longitudinal travel thereof in the socket l, but when suchtravel has ceased the Wing sect-ions will be moved relatively towardeach other to exercise a secure grip on t-he base 9.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present inventionprovides a simple, convenient and effective fixture by means of whichseparablel current conducting menibers can be readily connected togetheror taken apart and wherein provision is present for effecting themechanical support ot' said members as a unit. The socket does not inany way change the standard Jform of lamp base, or other threadedfixture now in general use and ot' accepted design. The construction isparticularly usetul Where it is necessary at frequent intervalsto removethe lamps from vor insert the same into sockets or fixtures, so thatthis operation can be carried out quickly, eliiciently and with butslight loss ot' time.

What is claimed is:

l. An incandescent lamp holder comprising a hase, an outer metallicsleeve carried by the base and forming a socket for the removablereception of a lamp base, said sleeve being provided with an angularspring seat, a' split lamp base receiver carried by the base andarranged Within said socket, and an annular spring confined between thesleeve and the receiver and positioned in said seat for coaction withsaid receiver to resiliently resist expansion on the part of thereceiver.

2. An incandescent lamp holder comprising a base, an outer metallicsleeve carried by the base and :forming a socket for the removablereception of a lamp base, said sleeve being provided with an angularspring seat, a split lamp base receiver eari'ied by the base andarranged within said socket, and an annular corrugated spring confinedbetween the sleeve and the receiver.

and positioned in said seat for coaction with said receiver toresiliently resist expansion on the part of the receiver.

In testimony whereof I aiix m'y signature.

noRMAn E. HAMIEL.

